Even so, it was a good class, and after two weeks of doing nothing but walk to a restaurant or bar, it was much needed class. Unfortunately, the aforementioned bar seemed to have had quite a detrimental effect on my memory. I think the over abundance of alcohol has more than likely dissolved my good memory filled brain cells, and left me with empty ones. It’s like an alcohol induced dementia.

I kinda think the next few Kuk Sool classes are going to be a little tough on the old body, but you know what they say, no pain, no gain.

I hope you enjoy them.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=STXOuRSrNsc

Kyo Sa Nim Janet

www.youtube.com/watch?v=YyVeLuZgs1Y

Sa Bum Nim Helen escorted by SBN Jon & JIKJN Martin

There really is something special watching friends promote and being part of the celebrations. Congratulation to Kyo Sa Nim Janet, Kyo Sa Nim Matt, and Sa Bum Nim Helen on their promotion. I also want to say a huge well done to Jon ‘Frenchee’ Pasquette on his first European tournament where he was awarded a Gold medal for his techniques, Gold medal for his Forms, and a Bronze for his Sparing.

The support team

Kyo Sa Nim Matt and Kyo Sa Nim Janet

Sa Bum Nim Jon and Helen

The new promotions

An estatic Kyo Sa Nim Janet and Jyo Kyo Nim Helen

Kung Fu panda

Master Sung Jin Suh demonstrating Crane on a Cloud

Jyo Kyo Nim Helen and Kyo Sa Nim Janet

Kyo Sa Nim Janet and Sa Bum Nim David

Joo Im Kwahn Jahng Nim Martin and Kyo Sa Nim Janet

Kwahn Jahng Nim Alison and Kyo Sa Nim Janet

Kwahn Jahng Nim Alison, Kyo Sa Nim Janet, and Jyo Kyo Nim Helen

Pu Sa Bum Nim Kevin and Kyo Sa Nim Janet

Kyo Sa Nim Janet and Kyo Sa Nim Lee

Kyo Sa Nim Matt

Here’s some of the many pictures I took. Drop me a line if you see anything you like, and I’ll email you a copy.

Janet and Helen

Stretching and warm-up

Adam and Neil totally focused

. . . . and so the testing begins

Mike and Charlotte . . . . . supporting . . . . and eating, lol

half way through the testing and a very happy Helen

What a wonderful place to take a grading

Helen still smiling, and Matty getting some serious airtime in the background

Janet, training hard in the sun

. . . see the fear in my eyes, lol

Helen leading the way

Hmmm . . . what can I say, Adam was having a great day out, lol

Joong Bong Il Hyung – Staff form

Matt and Janet doing techniques

Gemma and Helen, two very happy people

Getting near the end, and Gemma and Helen are still smiling

Adam and Neil doing techniques

. . . and its over. you can see and feel the relief.

A huge well done to everybody

Martial Arts training as a Black Belt is different, the challenges you confront are more personal. As a student working toward your Black Belt, the instructor trains you to work hard physically, they intentionally push you to your limit, whether it be the number of push-ups you can do, how fast you can kick, or how well you can execute your forms. You’re pushed and pushed, and taught to overcome your self-imposed limitations. Just one more push-up, or kicking a bit higher, or performing a little bit faster. The instructor gets a little bit more effort, and energy out of us. More than you thought you had in you, and that’s how we advance, get better, and improve.

As a Black belt, I’ve recognised that training is about oneself, and how we push ourselves. The motivation and desire to learn, improve and train comes from within us, and not from our instructor. And it’s taken me a while to identify that needed change in my learning style, and how to apply that change. In fact, before I recognised the problems I was having, I’d become so disappointed with Kuk Sool Won I wanted to take a sabbatical.

However, the Christmas break came at a good time. During the three week break I spent a lot of time thing about the coming year, and what direction my training was going to take. I came to the conclusion that my continued development isn’t going to magically happen for me, and that I’d have to take hold of it, control it, and make it happen . . . . and for the past month that’s just what I have been doing.

So I’m now training four days a week, both in school and out, for about 6 hours, sometimes more, and I’m feeling great. I can’t remember feeling this motivated, energised, and having a passion to train and learn for a long time. It’s a fantastic feeling, I’m glad has returned. My home gym/dojang hasn’t seen much use over the previous six months, and it’s had a much deserved thrashing this past month. My private workout and training routines are demanding, physically challenging, and mentally tough. Ok, it’s only been three weeks, but I’m already feeling the benefits. My mind and body feel stronger and fitter, I’m more focused and committed, and most importantly, my enthusiasm for the Martial Arts has returned.

Learning a martial art is about personal success and achievement. It’s all about going as far as you’re able, then, when you think you can’t do any more or any better, find that place deep down inside yourself where you make yourself go just a little bit further, do a little bit better, succeed a little bit more.

I now employ three methods to reclaim some of my precious time. The first may seem obvious, but is definitely worth mentioning, the second is something that’s a great habit to develop and the third is something I’ve touched on before but you’ve probably never tried. Here they are:

1. Practice better time management skills

Sounds simple, and straight out of my business ethos. But how do you go about putting this into practice? There are two ways that I use that should hopefully go some way to making you more organised.

Scheduling / Timetabling
Preparing and sticking to a schedule is one classic method that’s stood the test of time. Simply organise your tasks and do them at specific times. The idea behind it is that it’ll stop you procrastinating and staring at the TV, or endlessly surfing the web. If done properly, you’ll always know you’ll have time to practice. You can also flip this around, and schedule sacred ‘training time’. Make sure immediate friends and family know that this is non-negotiable time that you’re going to spend training, no matter what. Any chores that don’t get done outside that time – tough. You don’t do them. Draw a line in the sand. No ifs, buts or maybes, that time is yours, defend it with your life.

Combining jobs
Another method to complement scheduling is to combining jobs together to save time. If you’ve got to iron shirts for work, iron all of them for the whole week, not every day before work. If you’re cooking, cook a massive stew that’ll last for three days and you can simply reheat, or make a massive box of salad you can keep in the fridge and add things too (i.e. tuna salad one day, egg salad the next and so on). Emailing – only check emails once a day at home and limit the amount of computer time you have. The trick is to have a think about your regular everyday jobs, and come up with new ways to make them more efficient. Use your imagination and creativity! With only a little bit of thinking you the time you save can quickly add up, freeing hours of time a week.

2. Practice constant awareness and improvement

This is more a mindset to be in than specific improvement advice. The theory is simple, take every opportunity to practice outside of class that you can. Waiting for the kettle to boil? Throw out a couple of shadow boxing moves. Doing the ironing? Stick your leg up on the windowsill and do some stretching. Keep looking around you and improvising. Use anything and everything you can to help you improve. Live your martial art, and squeeze it into every crack in the day you can find.

3. Practice your visualisation skills

This method is a fantastic way to reclaim a great deal of time each week and supplement your training in a very interesting way. It can be used whenever you get the chance to relax your mental muscle for a while. For example, when you can do something without thinking about it, you can use that time to practice your martial art in your head. I’m talking about a very specific and vivid form of visualisation. Perhaps the best way is for me to give you an example. Yesterday as I was clearing leaves and detritus from a large garden I manage, so I used the time to run through my forms a few times and my techniques.

Good luck to all of you trying to lead busy lives and still train. Practive makes perfect

And the prognosis is, that I need to rest, and take loads of painkillers until the swelling subsides and stops putting pressure on the nerves. The Solpadol tablets I’m taking are very good, but they knock you senseless, and I’ll be glad to get off them.

Raising money for local children’s charity “Help an East Coast Child”.